As they read your query letter telling them about your screenplays and your ideas for screenplays that you have yet to write, what are the chances of them going with your ideas to someone in the BIZ... like it was their idea.

Do not

ever

send anyone a query letter pitching a script you haven't written.

Do not

ever

send anyone a query letter pitching a script you haven't written.

rik said...

Don't EVER do that.

The only kind of a query you should be writing is for a script you've already written. Of course you COULD include a query about a script you've never written but then you're taking the chance of someone liking your idea ENOUGH to run with it.

Nobody is ever going to tell you to go ahead write a screenplay based on a query you sent them UNLESS you've already established a name for yourself in this business...

And IF you are already established, there would be no need to write queries... You either write the thing on SPEC or pitch the idea in person to someone in the business like a studio or production company.

filmy

Also, if it is a script you have written, make sure that you've done some kind of copy-writing-esque thing before circulating much about it.

http://www.wgaeast.org/ since you live on the east coast.

Redundant. I put my scripts out there for those that have an interest in reading them. Never can tell when someone might take a liking to what you have written. But. I never send out query letter unless the script is polished, polished and polished. Never can tell who might eventually read that 'extremely entertaining' story! I never send out a script unless it is copyrighted with the LOC and registered with the WGA. Look. I love writing. I do it all almost every day. I get to live/be/play-God in some really strange stories and locations. I'm in my stories and its like watching a great movie (better be 'great' to at least to the one writing it, LOL). With the hours I spent writing, rewriting and rewriting and polishing and polishing, (you get the idea) it goes on and on. Add to that, a 'read through' or 'round table reads'. Hey, I want to a make some change (money) in the process. Protect Your Creativity! Make something! Original. Fresh. Entertain us with your awesome imagination. But copyright (costs around $45.00) and register with WGA (costs $20.00 if you are a non member). Go without Starbucks coffee for a week or two.
But write and make it damn good, (triple check your spelling and punctuation). Wait six months and do it all over again (same script)! Have fun writing -- it will show in the words. And do it everyday! The 'art' is in the making of the object, production, story, etc. -- not how much money you get or spent! (of course this advice is coming from a starving artist -- LOL). Yeah, this reply IS really redundant...hope it helps.